The Seventh of the Soongmuiga Family, Lee Jaehak.
Before my regression, whenever I saw my older brother's name, it was always in the political or economic sections of the newspaper.
He was renowned not for his martial prowess but for his expertise in politics, administration, and commerce.
A meticulous work ethic, exceptional negotiating skills, and the ability to build relationships without creating hostility—traits that seemed unbelievable for someone so young.
From an early age, he used the family's discretionary and support funds to create seed money. By the time he reached adulthood, he had already established multiple successful businesses, making a name for himself as a young entrepreneur.
He continued expanding his ventures by selling some and acquiring others, gradually increasing their scale.
By the time he had just passed thirty,
my seventh brother had built an independent business empire, completely separate from the Soongmuiga family, and had secured a spot in the corporate rankings.
People called him by the alias "Golden Sword" (金劍).
And now, one of the young monsters of Soongmuiga—my brother, Lee Jaehak—was sitting right in front of me.
'I figured we'd meet someday, but I never expected that day to come so soon. Especially right after the promotion match.'
The seventh brother's office was immaculate, exuding an almost obsessive neatness.
He personally carried over a tea set.
"It's been a while. Since Chuseok this year, right?"
"That's right. You remember."
"I'm not so dim-witted that I'd forget something like that."
Placing the tray down, my seventh brother naturally took a seat opposite me—not at the head of the table, but directly in front.
I silently watched as he began brewing tea.
'He's definitely not an easy person to deal with.'
The casual conversation, his act of personally brewing tea, even the way he chose his seat—it all seemed friendly and welcoming.
And that made it all the more concerning.
'Unpredictable kindness is more unsettling than open hostility.'
If he had simply shown disdain for me as an illegitimate child or displayed open animosity, I wouldn't have felt this on edge.
"Try it. My only hobby is enjoying tea, so my brewing skills shouldn't be too bad."
"Do you always serve tea to your guests yourself?"
He gave a cryptic smile.
"That depends on the guest."
"…I see."
I lifted the teacup. A golden ring lined the rim, adding an elegant touch.
Taking a sip, I recognized a blend of Darjeeling and Assam.
"A fine tea."
"It's a first flush harvest from an overseas tea plantation I acquired two years ago. If you like it, I'll send you some leaves."
"It would be rude to refuse a gift from my brother. I'll accept it gratefully."
After that, we exchanged a few meaningless pleasantries.
Lee Jaehak observed me with a peculiar expression.
'I probed him multiple times, yet he didn't hastily bring up the main topic. That's a level of composure unfitting for his situation. He knows how to control the pace of a conversation.'
His eyes, though feigning warmth, were carefully gauging me.
He noted that I didn't react excessively to his kindness, that I controlled my expressions well, and that while I was tense, my words remained steady.
Even though he must have known that I had been dragged into the recent promotion match, I maintained my composure throughout.
'So, he's not just some foolish kid with a bit of martial talent.'
By now, the assessment was complete.
After all, he was the one who had called for me. It was only right that he made some concessions.
Placing his teacup down, Lee Jaehak slowly spoke.
"The reason I called you here today is simple."
The expression of my seventh older brother changed.
From an utterly ordinary man to a cold, composed warrior.
This was the true image of my seventh older brother—the one I had originally known.
"The matter regarding the promotion match—it was something the sixth brother and I orchestrated. Were you aware of that?"
"Yes, I was aware."
I, too, set down my teacup.
Now, it was time to get to the main point.
I focused on my seventh brother's next words.
"In that case, we can move quickly. This was not my own will."
The words that came from my older brother's mouth were not too different from what I had expected.
'So, this is how he's going to play it.'
My seventh older brother had a firm principle when it came to handling matters:
Never make enemies under any circumstances.
He always drew a line, never leaning too far to either side.
To some, it might seem like a precarious balancing act, leaving him vulnerable to attacks from both directions. But when the one performing it was my seventh brother, the situation changed.
"Still, I do bear some fault. If you wish, I will offer an apology."
I silently shook my head.
"That won't be necessary."
A brief silence.
Then, I continued as if nothing had happened.
"This incident is merely one of many that will be repeated countless times in the upcoming competitions. Surely, you're not about to tell me that you had no choice because of Madam Baek—no, because of our foster mother's wishes?"
"A competition, you say… Do you see me as an enemy?"
"How could I not, when you have interfered with my people and openly schemed against me?"
My seventh brother gazed at me in silence.
I did not avoid his eyes.
This was a debt that had to be settled one day. Mere words would not suffice—I had to claim an equivalent price in return.
"Hm…"
My seventh brother's eyes gleamed.
'What should I do?'
He already knew I was not someone who would let this go with just a few words of apology.
Lee Jaehak began to weigh his options.
'Should I eliminate him now to avoid future trouble?'
The eldest brother and father were factors to consider, but dealing with a powerless illegitimate son was not a difficult task.
'Or should I endure a temporary loss for the sake of the future?'
At that moment, Lee Jaehak looked into his youngest brother's eyes.
Profound, unwavering eyes.
A sharp chill flickered within them.
Upon seeing that gaze, Lee Jaehak made his decision.
"What do you want me to do?"
The cold intensity around my seventh brother softened.
I smiled.
"Show your sincerity. I wasn't the only one harmed in this incident."
Lee Jaehak let out a short laugh.
What an audacious brat. He refused to accept an apology, yet he demanded compensation.
But he liked the pragmatism in it.
"Among all the brothers, I feel like I might get along with you the best."
"I wouldn't know about that."
"Well, in any case, fine. I will provide an appropriate level of elixirs to the cadets of Class 5. And…"
My seventh brother trailed off as he stood up and retrieved a long box from behind the table.
Thud—
The sound it made when placed on the table hinted at its considerable weight.
"What is this, Brother?"
"This was a gift I was supposed to present in a trade with a certain martial family. Go ahead and open it."
I unlatched the long box, crafted from fragrant cedarwood.
Whoosh!
A chilling energy surged out the moment the lid was lifted.
'This is…'
Inside the box lay a pair of swords and a dao.
The Famous Sword Effenberg, the Renowned Blade of Forging.
Both were masterpieces of weapons.
The sharpness they exuded and the power infused within them were extraordinary.
Twitch.
And the moment I faced those weapons, the black energy coiled around my heart began to stir.
Like a beast that had found a delicious prey, it was ready to extend its energy at my command.
"...Is there a reason you're going this far?"
The value of two masterpiece-level weapons was one thing, but I couldn't understand why my seventh brother was being so deferential.
"I had a gut feeling that I must not make you my enemy."
Seventh Brother spoke in a firm voice and extended his hand toward me.
"I believe this should be enough to convey my sincerity. What do you think?"
I stared at his hand for a moment.
Then, slowly, I grasped it.
"I will accept it with gratitude."
***
It would have been unbecoming for me to carry the weapons myself, so Seventh Brother said he would have them delivered to my residence.
I asked him,
"Sixth Sister or our foster mother won't be pleased with what you've done. Will you be alright?"
"It doesn't matter."
Lee Jaehak truly thought so.
After all, as a result of this incident, his mother had suffered quite a loss.
She had reprimanded him for his failure, but there was no further interference.
No matter what he did now, she wouldn't intervene.
And as for Sixth Sister, Lee Seol-ah—
"That woman doesn't matter either. If it weren't for Mother's orders, I wouldn't have worked with her at all."
"I see."
Well, it wasn't something I needed to worry about.
"But be careful of Sixth Sister. Unlike me, she doesn't like you at all. She'll make a move soon."
"It doesn't matter. I won't be in the family for the next year."
"A year?"
I briefly explained what had transpired with Father.
"I see. I can already picture how that woman will go on a rampage."
Seventh Brother let out a cheerful laugh.
As we continued talking, we soon arrived at the front gate.
As I was about to leave, Seventh Brother spoke one last time.
"Youngest, I don't make enemies—whether in business, competition, or anything else. I believe that treating someone as a true enemy is one of the stupidest things one can do."
That was how Lee Jaehak lived his life.
"So it's the same in this case. I believe we can build a good relationship and work together. Though our first interaction was rather unfortunate."
"You've made a lot of concessions, so I don't intend to bring up this matter anymore. However, Elder Brother—"
I turned to look at him.
"You're not someone who simply avoids making enemies, are you?"
"What?"
"You just see everyone except yourself as an enemy, don't you?"
For the first time, a crack appeared in Seventh Brother's ever-composed expression, as if I had hit the mark.
"Ha."
And then, he let out a low chuckle.
"Hahaha. So, you think I see everyone as my enemy?"
Seventh Brother didn't make enemies.
If a relationship soured, he would step back and maintain it, even if it meant taking a temporary loss.
But I knew him.
If a relationship was beyond repair, he wouldn't bother fixing it.
And once someone crossed the line, he would utterly destroy them—
As if the relationship had never existed in the first place, without a trace of hesitation or pity.
"You're an interesting one."
His eyes gleamed sharply. It was as if a thin mask he had been wearing had been slightly lifted.
"I feel even more certain that I made the right choice this time. I look forward to working with you."
"I also look forward to it. Now, if you'll excuse me."
I gave a slight bow and turned away.
I could feel his gaze following me as I left.
***
January arrived.
This year's winter was particularly harsh.
Unless one had reached a level where their body had been reconstructed through martial arts, even those who wielded magic would feel the cold if they didn't maintain a constant flow of mana.
But that didn't apply to me, as I was relentlessly training in the martial courtyard.
If anything, the heat rising from my body had made me throw off my coat.
"Ugh, kiddo. Your aunt is freezing to death here...."
My aunt shivered inside her thick padded jacket.
"You were the one who said you wanted to see me, Aunt."
"Ugh, I know! But! It's negative 23 degrees! Colder than Siberia! Look! My breath froze on my eyebrows!"
I let out a deep sigh.
"You could just circulate your mana."
"Ugh! That's such a hassle. You cheeky little brat! Hey, where are you going now? Can't you just stay still for once? The weather's freezing, so just take it easy!"
Grinding her teeth, she stomped over to me.
"Fine, just hurry up and show me!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"The Aura Skill you created!"
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